France is providing 12 Caesar artillery pieces to Ukraine.
French-German defense firm KNDS secures Caesar howitzer deal through Ukraine, announces French Defense Minister
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced on platform X that KNDS, a French-German defense conglomerate, has signed a contract for the delivery of twelve Caesar howitzers, funded by Ukraine. The term "Caesar" denotes "Camion équipé d'un système d'artillerie," which translates to "truck equipped with an artillery system." This self-propelled artillery system has the capability to strike targets up to 55 kilometers away. "Enhancing the production capacity of our defense industry aids in supporting Ukraine," Lecornu stated. France has previously supplied Caesar howitzers to Ukraine multiple times.
13:11 Ukraine: Novosibirsk FSB headquarters attack suspected to be individual's act of arson
An attack on the headquarters of Russia's internal security service FSB in Novosibirsk, reported on October 3, is believed to be the work of an individual who set the building on fire and perished within it, according to a video released by Ukraine's military intelligence. Russian media have confirmed the incident.
12:34 Russia: Car bomb explosion targets plant's "security chief," leaves plant Director expressing concern
A senior official at the Russian-occupied Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Saporizhzhia was killed in a car bomb attack, as confirmed by Ukraine's security service. A video purportedly shows a car explosion, with the security service identifying the plant's "security chief," Andriy Korotky, as the target. Korotky, labeled as a "war criminal," had "voluntarily collaborated with Russian occupiers" and condemned pro-Ukrainian employees at the plant, according to the security service. The plant's leadership, alleging a "terrorist attack ordered by Kyiv," attributed Korotky's demise to the incident. The plant's director, Yuriy Chernichuk, voiced regret over the "reckless" incident, calling for its consequences to be merited.
12:02 Munz: Putin's army aims to establish dominance in eastern Ukraine
After capturing the city of Vuhledar in eastern Ukraine, Russia's military will continue to escalate pressure in the region, as Rainer Munz, a Russia correspondent, predicts. He explains the escalated appointment of veteran military officials to key positions by Putin.
11:29 Ukraine: POW death count in Russian captivity reaching 177
At least 177 Ukrainian prisoners of war have perished in Russian captivity since the invasion of Ukraine, as reported by Victoria Tsymbaliuk, the coordinator of Ukraine's center for prisoners of war at the Kyiv Independent. Despite the possibility that the total number of deaths in Russian custody is significantly higher, Tsymbaliuk attributes this discrepancy to insufficient international supervision and incomplete record-keeping of prisoner deaths.
11:00 Ukraine: Russian forces bomb Kirovohrad region with drones
Russian forces have bombarded the Kirovohrad region in central Ukraine using drones, according to regional military administration head Andriy Raykovych, as stated on his Telegram channel. Injuries were sustained as a result of a drone strike on a company's administrative building in Holovaniwsk.
10:27 Insurance giant UNIQA officially withdraws from Russian market
Austrian insurance colossus UNIQA has concluded the sale of their Russian subsidiary to Russian Renaissance Life, as revealed by the firm. The details of the purchase price remain undisclosed. UNIQA had announced plans to sell their joint insurance subsidiary with Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) to Russian life insurer Renaissance Life over a year ago, effectively exiting the Russian market.
09:55 Two Russian fuel depots engulfed in massive fires
Incendiaries have swept through two Russian fuel depots overnight, causing considerable damage. In the Voronezh region, Gubernator Alexander Gusev attributed blame for the fire to a Ukrainian drone attack. Social media platforms circulated videos of an apparent drone strike, but the scope of damage sustained could not be determined. In a village near Perm in the Urals, a burning fuel tank covering an area of 10,000 square meters remains under investigation, despite the potential capability of Ukrainian drones to cover such distances.
09:30 Navalnaya deems negotiations with Putin unnecessary
Julia Navalnaya, the wife of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, has expressed that negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin are unnecessary. "There's no need to discuss anything with him (...). We need to fight him so that one day justice will prevail," she affirmed before the French Constitutional Council in Paris. "The West doesn't understand that Putin doesn't wait for someone to come and talk to him. (...) He doesn't care," she concluded. She emphasized the importance of unity and resilience in the face of the oppressive regime.
08:58 Ukraine Releases Figures on Russian CasualtiesThe Ukrainian military command has disclosed fresh statistics regarding Russian troop casualties in Ukraine. The figures show that around 657,940 Russian soldiers have been lost since February 24, 2022, with an average daily loss of 1,230. Furthermore, reports from Kyiv suggest that 15 tanks, 59 artillery systems, and 101 drones have been demolished. Since the inception of the large-scale invasion, Ukraine claims that Russia has lost 8,908 tanks, 18,965 artillery systems, 368 aircraft, 328 helicopters, 16,494 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, according to Ukrainian estimations. Western assessments suggest lower casualty figures, although these are likely underestimates.
08:09 Ukraine Reports 82 Russian Attacks on Sumy RegionIn the previous 24 hours, Russian forces have conducted 82 attacks on the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine, as per the regional military administration's report on Telegram. The attacks left eight civilians injured. Russian forces allegedly employed mortars, artillery, rocket launchers, guided bombs, and drones during these attacks. More than ten communities in Sumy were affected, including Mykolajiw, Chotyn, Junakiwka, Myropillja, Bilopillja, Richkyvka, Krasnopillja, Velyka Pysarivka, Nova Sloboda, Hluchiw, Shalyhyne, Esman, and Seredyna-Buda. The Sumy region shares borders with the Russian regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod.
07:33 Ukraine Opens First Recruitment Office in PolandUkrainian military officials have launched a recruitment office in Poland, as announced by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The "Ukrainian Legion" office in Lublin, Poland, marks the initiation of the Ukrainian military's first foreign recruitment center. The plan to train a "Ukrainian Legion" in Poland was part of a security agreement signed between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in July. Since the Russian invasion, Poland has welcomed nearly a million refugees from Ukraine. According to Ukrainian government estimates, around 300,000 individuals of fighting age from Ukraine reside in Poland. Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated, referencing Wirtualna Polska, that Poland is not responsible for the recruitment of Ukrainian volunteers, but only for their military training. Kosiniak-Kamysz added that the number of Ukrainians who have registered for this training is insufficient. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, almost 200 applications have been received so far.
06:52 ISW: Russian Resources for Offensive in Eastern Ukraine ExhaustedThe Russian forces may not possess sufficient personnel and material resources to sustain the intensified offensive operations indefinitely, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its latest report. The Russian summer offensive was meticulously prepared by the Russian military leadership for months in advance. However, the reserves and resources amassed for this purpose may have been significantly depleted by the prolonged battles of the preceding months, according to ISW. As previously predicted by Ukrainian officials and ISW, the current Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine is likely to reach its zenith in the coming months, or even weeks.
06:12 Zelensky: "The Frontline Must be Strengthened"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praises the recent visit of new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to Kyiv as "significant." "Now it’s about executing these priorities with decisions," Zelensky said in his evening video address. Zelensky emphasizes the importance of fully executing all defense support agreements with Ukraine's partners. "The frontline must be strengthened," Zelensky states, further urging permission from allies to use long-range weapons against enemy military targets on Russian territory. "Everyone in the alliance is aware of the necessity," Zelensky says. The president also cites air defense as a top priority.
05:35 Ukraine Attracts Investors with Small Arms ShowThe Ukrainian Defense Ministry is seeking foreign investors for the arms industry. To attract interested foreign parties, a secret arms exhibition was organized for potential partners at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, according to Ukrinform. Deputy Minister Dmytro Klimenkov showcases a variety of Ukrainian weapons, including an anti-tank missile system, a self-propelled artillery system, unmanned explosive devices, and mine-clearing vehicles. "We have unique innovations that have been battle-tested and refined by our developers to a certain degree," Klimenkov says. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has reportedly invested four billion dollars (3.6 billion euros) in the arms industry and aims to attract further investment from international partners.
05:10 Moscow: Shot-down Drone Ignites Empty Oil TankOvernight, Russian air defense officials have reported shooting down several Ukrainian drones in the Voronezh border region. One of the drones landed on the grounds of an oil depot, causing an empty tank to catch fire, as per Governor Alexander Gusev's report on Telegram. Preliminary investigations suggest no casualties. The information cannot be independently confirmed. Voronezh has been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks in recent days.
02:51 Ukrainian Forces Bolster Defenses in EastGeneral Oleksandr Syrsky, head of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, orders reinforcement of defensive structures in the eastern Donetsk region. Russian troops are pushing forward in various sectors of eastern Ukraine. Syrsky shares on social media that he's collaborating with the 25th Sicheslav Airborne Brigade "at one of the vital frontlines."
22:22 Tourism Dips in Latvia due to ConflictLatvian newspaper "Diena" reports today that Russia's conflict with Ukraine is impacting tourism in Latvia. Entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry and the Central Statistical Bureau argue that the war is hindering post-COVID-19 pandemic tourism recovery. Additionally, international visitors view the Baltics as an uncertain and conflict-prone region.
21:40 Switzerland Commons 1.5 Billion Euros for Ukraine's RebuildingSwitzerland plans to invest 1.5 billion Swiss francs (1.54 billion euros) over four years into reconstruction projects in Ukraine, as said by Swiss Ambassador to Ukraine and Moldova, Felix Baumann. Of these funds, 1 billion will be allocated to Ukrainian self-governance, mine clearance, and humanitarian aid. The remaining amount will finance rebuilding programs involving the Swiss private sector, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Communities and Territories Development. "To underscore our commitment, our project supervisor will be stationed here," mentioned Baumann during a meeting with Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. Kuleba also referred to constructing homes for the 4.5+ million internally displaced persons in Ukraine as a top cooperation priority with Switzerland.
20:39 Ukraine Receives Patriot Air Defense System from RomaniaRomanian Ministry of Defense spokesperson Constantin Spinu confirmed yesterday that Ukraine has acquired a Patriot air defense system from Bucharest. "I am grateful to every country aiding us with air defense, especially Romania for its Patriot systems. Together, we can improve defence efficiency – we can halt Russian threats by jointly countering Shahed drones and missiles," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy already expressed in his Wednesday evening address. Bucharest originally hesitated but ultimately decided to donate one of its Patriots in June. The Romanian government authorized the system's delivery last month.
19:57 Forbes: Gazprom Becomes Russia's Most Unprofitable CompanyRussian state-owned company PJSC Gazprom experienced a record net loss of 5.5 billion euros in 2023, marking the first time in 25 years, according to business magazine Forbes. The Amur Gas and Chemical Complex, a joint venture between Russian Sibur Holding and Chinese Sinopec, ranked second in Russia's Forbes rankings of the most unprofitable companies. Other companies on the list of the five most unprofitable Russian companies include Ozon (408 million euros net loss), United Aircraft Corporation (326 million euros net loss), and social network VK (326 million euros net loss).
- The European Union could potentially provide further support to Ukraine's defense industry, given its strategic partnership with both France and Germany, who are involved in the production and supply of Caesar howitzers to Ukraine.
- The European Union, as a collective entity, has not directly commented on or engaged in the conflicts mentioned in the text. However, several European countries, such as France, have provided military aid to Ukraine, including Caesar howitzers.
